Digital heritage

Digital heritage

Smart Management of Cultural Heritage sites in China and Italy

Date：2017-02-17

HIST's collaborative project with the Institute of Archaeology and Heritage Management (IBAM) and Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis (IMAA) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) on “Smart Management of Cultural Heritage sites in China and Italy” has been a significant initiative launched during 2014-2016. Although the collaboration began with Hongcun Village World Heritage site of China in the Anhui Province and the City of Rome, the partnership has evolved and is now focusing mainly on sites along the Silk Road Economic Belt that begins in Luoyang, Henan Province in central China and extends further west into Central Asia and to Eastern Europe.

Research undertaken by this China/Italy partnership has: (i) investigated the scope of optical images, including those obtainable via the use of UAVs (Unmanned Air Vehicles) in archaeological prospection; (ii) methodologies for underground geophysical ground exploration; (iii) research on the scope of using radar-remote sensing for archaeological prospection and discovery of archaeological signs; and (iv) research on adaptability of remote sensing methodologies. Several peer-reviewed publications have resulted from the cooperative program.

A 20-person multi-disciplinary team has been set up for promoting more widespread applications of integrated “satellite-air-ground” sensing technologies with studies on many World Heritage sites along the Silk Road Economic Belt foreseen over the coming years